Picture of Lincoln at Gettysburg

[Guru80]

While doing a Google search for civil war photographs I found this one at http://www.civilwarphotography.org/lincolngettysburg.html

It's cool seeing images after reading about it in Foote's novels and getting the same image in your head as what really happened. Guess that is just a credit to his writing style and depth of descriptions.

This is the full frame reproduction of an Alexander Gardner stereo view showing the crowd at the dedication of the National Cemetery at Gettysburg on Nov. 19, 1863, where Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address.



In this detail from a tiny portion of the full photo, the unmistakable profile of Lincoln appears as he rides on horseback through a corridor of troops after arriving at the cemetery.

[runyan99]

Well, yes that does look like his hat.

You can see the arch of the Seminary in that first picture. I wish that building were still there to see.

Of course, as Foote points out, the Gettysburg address was a flop when it was first given. Lincoln's penchant for brevity was little appreciated at the time.

[Guru80]

Well, yes that does look like his hat.

You can see the arch of the Seminary in that first picture. I wish that building were still there to see.

Of course, as Foote points out, the Gettysburg address was a flop when it was first given. Lincoln's penchant for brevity was little appreciated at the time.

Yeah, thats true. Growing up and learning about the Gettysburg address and other tidbits of civil war history I had always assumed it was this great moment of the Civil War for Lincoln. Wasn't until I read Foote that I knew how it really went over. I have learned more about the Civil war in the first dozen pages of the first Volume than I ever did through school. I had studied some of the battles out of interest but Foote has gave me a whole new appreciation of what took place and just how deadly they were

The reason I am fascinated with this picture (and the other of him saluting at the link) is because I was trying to find a picture of Lincoln giving the Gettysburg Address and there don't seem to be any, at least not any I can find. That kind of shocked me going back to what I had always assumed was this great moment during the Civil War.

To date there are only 3 Lincoln at Gettysburg photos, 2 of which weren't discovered until this year. All 3 are at this link:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-11-15-gettysburg-images_N.htm

I do wonder if the Top hat photo and the white glove salute photo that were discovered this year are in fact Lincoln or the man to the right (Lincoln's left) in the photo discovered in 1952. In it Lincoln isn't wearing his top hat but the gentleman next to him is and has a beard.

EDIT: I see that similar things were wrote in comment to the 3 photo article.

[Eugene Carr]

Wasnt the speech so short the photographer didnt have time to take it while he was at stand? hence the blurred pic of him getting seated.

[benpark]

Keep in mind these are cameras with slow film, on tripods at a bustling event. There was no "decisive moment" photography until roll film came into being in the early 1900's. Notice the faint outline of people walking in the foreground of the first picture-capturing action or movement was impossible. I also don't think this photograph is by Gardner.

[gwgardner]

I do wonder if the Top hat photo and the white glove salute photo that were discovered this year are in fact Lincoln or the man to the right (Lincoln's left) in the photo discovered in 1952. In it Lincoln isn't wearing his top hat but the gentleman next to him is and has a beard.

EDIT: I see that similar things were wrote in comment to the 3 photo article.

Since Lincoln was so much taller than most contemporaries, it gives credence that he would stand out like that in the pics on horseback.

Another recent book on Lincoln and his cabinet gave interesting background on the actual wording of the speech. He had used the phrase 'four score and seven', for instance, in other recent speeches.

[Hemlock]

Well, yes that does look like his hat.

You can see the arch of the Seminary in that first picture. I wish that building were still there to see.

Of course, as Foote points out, the Gettysburg address was a flop when it was first given. Lincoln's penchant for brevity was little appreciated at the time.

Actually, that arch you see is the entrance to Evergreen cemetery. Unless it got knocked down since my last visit it is still there and undergoing restoration if the funds can be found.

http://www.evergreencemetery.org/